Rebuilding Reef In larger tank....

[Reefneck]

OK, Many of you may have seen my 29G reef pics I have posted here before. Well, It's time for a cool change. (Older folks will remember that song).

I have been staring at this empty 55G in my bedroom for almost a month wondering how I was going to afford the initial startup costs in my current situation with my injuries. God Bless Santa Claus!

Santa brought me a Buyer for a Hex tank I needed to sell, That got me the money to buy the lighting I need for a Reef in the 55G. Then, Santa Gave me alot more Live Rock....(Thanks Mom). Still later, Santa brought me 80lbs of Fiji Pink Fine Live Sand....(My Wife). We got the sand from an established tank that the owner was taking down and got the 80lbs for $30.00.

Picked up a HOT Berlin Skimmer for $25.00 and have 3 265 GPH powerheads ready to go in. Transferring my Sump from the 29G over to the 55G until I can afford to get a refugium. Meantime I have Black Mangroves inside my overflow box on the tank side.

Sand has been put into the 55G and got loads of Fiji Live Rock Rubble out of it for fragging later. Boy is that tank cloudy right now. lol.

There is currently no filtration on the 55G but has 2 powerheads circulating the water. The tank also has a heater running. It is 3/4 full because I still have to add the live rock from my 29G when I do the xfer this weekend.

So....

Question #1 is: Will the live sand stay live until Thursday night when I begin the transfer?

Question #2 is: Any Suggestions on making the move easier?

I am thinking of using a clean bowl and dipping the corals with tank water from the 29G right into the 55G keeping them underwater the whole time. The move is only like 3 feet away.

The SG is exactly the same in both tanks as is the temp.

Thanks for any input.

Keri

[Reefneck]

***To The Top***

[TheOldSalt]

Sounds great. If you have good circulation in the 55, the sand should be fine. I can't really think of any nifty suggestions to make it any easier than you've already done.

[Reefneck]

Thanks OS, I'm just worried about ammonia/nitirites after the move. The Wet/Dry is going so I hope it will be minimal and all of the Live Rock is going as well.

I know if I take the Corals out of water it will take days if not weeks for them to open up again. Doing it with a bowl should prevent that for the most part.

[TheOldSalt]

It really shouldn't take days or weeks for them to reopen even if you do take them out of the water. The cause of that is really abrupt changes in water chemistry, shipping damage, and a big change in the lighting between the old & new locations. On the reef corals frequently get exposed to open air at low tide, and they're used to it. Keeping them wet will help, of course, but pay attention to the other things if you want them to reopen in a hurry.

[Reefneck]

Well, It's done! And the Corals all opened up right away in their new home.

It was a job, The wife helped and the Anemone is almost 25% bigger than he was in the 29G tank. Everybody seems happy.

Keeping an eye on the lighting upgrade since I went from NO to 260PC's.

Thanks for all your help OS, I have learned much from you and hope I can help you someday in return!

[Osiris]

Coming along bro, now let's talk about getting couple MH's on there


So, when warms back up, when can we start swapping corals?

[Reefneck]

Originally Posted by MalawianPro

Coming along bro, now let's talk about getting couple MH's on there


So, when warms back up, when can we start swapping corals?

MH's huh? As soon as I win the Lottery! Or get back to work full time and get the bills caught up. (Whichever comes first). :P

Sure, I am always looking for some nice Corals.